Enjoy a combination 12 mile road tour and under 30 minute hike through scenic Northwest Columbia County. You'll visit four covered bridges. Answer a question at each bridge to determine the coordinates for ammo box hidden in State Game Land SGL#226. Hunting in process in SGL's. Wear flourescent orange. Be careful.
 Kid Friendly  Dogs Allowed
 Hunting in SGL - use caution  Scenic View  Ticks |
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See the 3 other companion Columbia County Covered Bridge caches. They allow you to tour the entire county. Each of the 4 cache tours stands on its own. Each tour takes you through a different scenic area of the county and includes a short hike to an ammo box in a different, nearby SGL.
If you plan ahead, you can link all 4 caches in one giant loop. See the Bridge Locator Maps below. Or you can do each of the 4 tours on its own. One map shows all 4 tours for an overview. The other shows the tour for the cache on this page. The maps posted below aren’t necessary for the tours although they are good for orientation. The coordinates for each bridge are given below. However, a detailed road map or auto-navigation will be very helpful to get you around. The county has a nice brochure with detail map you can download in PDF. Again, it's not necessary to do the cache.
http://www.itourcolumbiamontour.com/covered_bridges_map.pdf
or have mailed to you
http://www.itourcolumbiamontour.com/mail.html
Also nice, although not mandatory, are the SGL topo maps here:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/game/maps/default.asp?rgn=Northeast
Select the SGL by number to download a PDF map file.
Or be adventurous and skip the maps and follow the arrow on your GPS! You might get a little lost, but each turn will provide another nice surprise.
If you enjoy tours like this one, check out my other covered bridge caches.
Good luck. Take your camera. Take your dog. Take your kids – all the caches have nice goodies for young and old.
Start at this bridge:
A. Creasyville Covered Bridge N41 12.733 W76 27.672 is single span Queenpost Truss with a total length of 49 feet. It crosses Little Fishing Creek in Waller. This historic bridge was built in 1881.
Creasyville quiz- What number is below the word Creasyville on top of the entrance portal?
1. 97
2. 132
3. 148
ENTER A answer (1, 2 or 3) = ________
B. Jud Christian Covered Bridge N41 11.749 W76 28.363 Built in 1876 by William L. Manning for $239.00, this 60 foot bridge crossing over Little Fishing Creek was named after a nearby farmer and lumberman. It’s in near-perfect condition: The stone and mortar abutments are solid; the wood ribbing of the roof is uniform; the wooden pegs (trunnels) are still in evidence; and the wall covering is in excellent condition. Ripe for termites!
Jud Christian quiz- What is the weight limitation?
1. 3 Tons
2. 4 Tons
3. 5 Tons
ENTER B answer (1, 2 or 3) = ________
C. Sam Eckman Covered Bridge N41 10.652 W76 29.406 built in 1876 for $498.00 by Joseph Redline. Samuel Eckman, after whom it was named, operated a farm, shingle mill and birch oil factory nearby, and later established the Millville Creamery. He claims to have also invented geocaching, but it didn’t take off at the time as couples were more interested in making out in the dark of his covered bridge.
Sam Eckman quiz- What No. is written in the smaller sign above the 9'6" Clearance sign at the top of the entrance portal?
1. Sam Eckman No.90
2. Sam Eckman No.91
3. Sam Eckman No.92
ENTER C answer (1, 2 or 3) = ________
D. Shoemaker Covered Bridge N41 09.080 W76 32.150 is single span Queenpost Truss with a total length of 54 feet. It crosses Branch Run in Iola. This historic bridge was built in 1881 and recently repaired. The road leaving the bridge has been permanently closed so you can only drive up to the bridge from one direction.
Shoemaker quiz- What date is posted above the door on the red house to the left as you approach the bridge?
1. 1819.
2. 1829.
3. 1839.
ENTER D answer (1, 2 or 3)= ________
Cache Coordinates:
Enter the number for each of your four answers and add them up:
A______ + B _______ + C _______ + D ________
= Total ________
The coordinates for the cache are determined by your total. Only one set of coordinates is correct.
If your total is 6, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.255 W76 34.490
If your total is 7, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.286 W76 34.457
If your total is 8, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.266 W76 34.388
If your total is 9, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.224 W76 34.408
If your total is 10, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.237 W76 34.440
If your total is 11, the cache coordinates are: N41 08.255 W76 34.336
The entrance I used to SGL226 is close to N41 06.934 W76 33.597 If someone gets a better coordinate, please post it in your log.
Start your hike from parking spot here. N41 08.202 W76 34.489 That’s exact.
Cache is on State Game Land. Wear orange during hunting season.
The pictures are NOT spoilers. Go ahead and add your own.
Encrypted hint beneath poem.
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The Covered Bridge Horseman
Weather spooky, moonlit fright,
Rides the horseman in the night.
Dressed in umber darkened garb,
Pointed spear with sharpened barb.
Fleet he gallops big black horse,
Arrow straight he plies his course.
Tackling hills beyond the pall,
Watching ruts he will not fall.
Destination up ahead,
Covered bridge all stained in red.
Enters into portal dark,
Never wavers from his mark.
Out the blackened end he’ll fly,
Seeking those who quake and cry.
Leaving creek and bridge behind,
There’s nothing in him soft or kind.
Hide yourself to no avail,
He never misses, will not fail.
Piercing those who lack belief,
No trust in God you’ll end in grief.
Alan Klein 2005 all rights reserved
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